Treadmill Exercise Decreases Inflammation Via Modulating IL-6 Expression in the Rat Model of Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion.

Background: Long-term bed rest in neurointensive care (NIC) patients leads to skeletal muscle atrophy and cognitive dysfunction, which seriously affects the physical fitness and final prognosis of critically ill patients. Exercise therapy plays an increasingly important role in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with sarcopenia. However, the therapeutic effect and mechanism of exercise therapy for patients with neurological impairment remain unclear.

Methods: Serum samples of NIC patients before and after exercise therapy and normal people were collected to detect interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was used for the construction of a rat model. The Morris water maze test, exploration test, and open-field test were used to assess neurological function in rats. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate the activation of IL-6/adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling.

Results: Exercise therapy attenuated IL-6 expression in NIC patients. Exercise therapy alleviated cognitive dysfunctions and decreased IL-6 expression in MCAO rats. Exercise therapy alleviated gastrocnemius muscle injury in rats after MCAO by modulating IL-6/AMPK signaling.

Conclusions: Treadmill exercise decreases inflammation in MCAO rats via modulating IL-6/AMPK signaling.